Switzerland’s secret service suspects that about ten Swiss people have gone to battle in the Syrian conflict.
As spokesman Felix Endrich told Swiss public radio, SRF, on Thursday, it is unclear whether the individuals are indeed jihadists or simply adventurers. His office is keeping a close eye on jihadist travellers as they might undergo training abroad and become radical.
«Those who return are very dangerous, as well as those who recruit in Switzerland. We are monitoring the situation,» Endrich said.
It is possible to travel to Syria either directly or via other countries, making it difficult to keep tabs. However, Endrich pointed out that not everyone headed for Syria was a radical Muslim.
Nine months ago, Endrich’s office didn’t have any confirmed evidence of jihad travellers on their way to Syria. On Thursday he said that there had been an increase in the number of such trips, as well as trips to countries like Iraq and Afghanistan.